Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World

Popular blogger Cal Newport reveals the new key to achieving success and true meaning in professional life: the ability to master distraction. Many modern knowledge workers now spend most of their brain power battling distraction and interruption, whether because of the incessant pinging of devices, noisy open-plan offices or the difficulty of deciding what deserves their attention the most. When Cal Newport coined the term deep work on his popular blog, Study Hacks, in 2012, he found the concept quickly hit a nerve.

Peak: Secrets from the New Science of Expertise

Anders Ericsson has spent 30 years studying the special ones - the geniuses, sports stars and musical prodigies. And his remarkable finding, revealed in Peak, is that their special abilities are acquired through training. The innate 'gift' of talent is a myth. Exceptional individuals are born with just one unique ability, shared by us all - the ability to develop our brains and bodies through our own efforts.

Ego Is the Enemy

"While the history books are filled with tales of obsessive visionary geniuses who remade the world in their images with sheer, almost irrational force, I've found that history is also made by individuals who fought their egos at every turn, who eschewed the spotlight, and who put their higher goals above their desire for recognition." (From the prologue)

The Inevitable: Understanding the 12 Technological Forces That Will Shape Our Future

Much of what will happen in the next 30 years is inevitable, driven by technological trends that are already in motion. In this fascinating, provocative new book, Kevin Kelly provides an optimistic road map for the future, showing how the coming changes in our lives - from virtual reality in the home to an on-demand economy to artificial intelligence embedded in everything we manufacture - can be understood as the result of a few long-term accelerating forces.

Algorithms to Live By: The Computer Science of Human Decisions

All our lives are constrained by limited space and time, limits that give rise to a particular set of problems. What should we do, or leave undone, in a day or a lifetime? How much messiness should we accept? What balance of new activities and familiar favorites is the most fulfilling? These may seem like uniquely human quandaries, but they are not: computers, too, face the same constraints, so computer scientists have been grappling with their version of such problems for decades.

The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do, and How to Change

In The Power of Habit, award-winning New York Times business reporter Charles Duhigg takes us to the thrilling edge of scientific discoveries that explain why habits exist and how they can be changed. With penetrating intelligence and an ability to distil vast amounts of information into engrossing narratives, Duhigg brings to life a whole new understanding of human nature and its potential for transformation.

So Good They Can't Ignore You

Cal Newport's clearly written manifesto flies in the face of conventional wisdom by suggesting that it should be a person's talent and skill - and not necessarily their passion - that determines their career path. Newport, who graduated from Dartmouth College (Phi Beta Kappa) and earned a PhD from MIT, contends that trying to find what drives us, instead of focusing on areas in which we naturally excel, is ultimately harmful and frustrating to job seekers.

Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance

Why do naturally talented people frequently fail to reach their potential while other far less gifted individuals go on to achieve amazing things? The secret to outstanding achievement is not talent but a passionate persistence. In other words, grit. MacArthur Genius Award-winning psychologist Angela Duckworth shares fascinating new revelations about who succeeds in life and why.

Thinking, Fast and Slow

Daniel Kahneman, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences for his seminal work in psychology challenging the rational model of judgment and decision making, is one of the world's most important thinkers. His ideas have had a profound impact on many fields - including business, medicine, and politics - but until now, he has never brought together his many years of research in one book.

Elon Musk

South African-born Elon Musk is the renowned entrepreneur and innovator behind PayPal, SpaceX, Tesla, and SolarCity. Musk wants to save our planet; he wants to send citizens into space, to form a colony on Mars; he wants to make money while doing these things; and he wants us all to know about it. He is the real-life inspiration for the Iron Man series of films starring Robert Downey, Jr. The personal tale of Musk's life comes with all the trappings one associates with a great, drama-filled story.

Mindware: Tools for Smart Thinking

Many scientific and philosophical ideas are so powerful that they can be applied to our lives at home, work, and school to help us think smarter and more effectively about our behavior and the world around us. Surprisingly, many of these ideas remain unknown to most of us. In Mindware, the world-renowned psychologist Richard Nisbett presents these ideas in clear and accessible detail, offering a tool kit for better thinking and wiser decisions.

Payoff: The Hidden Logic That Shapes Our Motivations

Every day we work hard to motivate ourselves, the people we live with, the people who work for and do business with us. In this way much of what we do can be defined as being motivators. From the boardroom to the living room, our role as motivators is complex, and the more we try to motivate partners and children, friends and coworkers, the clearer it becomes that the story of motivation is far more intricate and fascinating than we've assumed.

Outsmart Yourself: Brain-Based Strategies to a Better You

The brain is an astounding organ, and today neuroscientists have more insights than ever about how it works - as well as strategies for helping us live better every day. These 24 practical lectures give you a wealth of useful strategies for improving your well-being. By presenting evidence-based "hacks" for your brain, Professor Vishton empowers you to take charge of your life and perform better all around.

Drive: The Surprising Truth about What Motivates Us

A book that will change how you think and transform how you live.Forget everything you thought you knew about how to motivate people - at work, at school, at home. It is wrong. As Daniel H. Pink explains in his paradigm-shattering book Drive, the secret to high performance and satisfaction in today's world is the deeply human need to direct our own lives, to learn and create new things, and to do better by ourselves and the world.

Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow

Yuval Noah Harari, author of the best-selling Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, envisions a not-too-distant world in which we face a new set of challenges. Now, in Homo Deus, he examines our future with his trademark blend of science, history, philosophy and every discipline in between. Homo Deus explores the projects, dreams and nightmares that will shape the 21st century - from overcoming death to creating artificial life.

How We Learn

In the tradition of The Power of Habit and Thinking, Fast and Slow comes a practical, playful, and endlessly fascinating guide to what we really know about learning and memory today - and how we can apply it to our own lives. From an early age, it is drilled into our heads: Restlessness, distraction, and ignorance are the enemies of success.

Superforcasting: The Art and Science of Prediction

Everyone would benefit from seeing further into the future, whether buying stocks, crafting policy, launching a new product, or simply planning the week's meals. Unfortunately, people tend to be terrible forecasters. As Wharton professor Philip Tetlock showed in a landmark 2005 study, even experts' predictions are only slightly better than chance. However, an important and underreported conclusion of that study was that some experts do have real foresight.

Black Box Thinking: The Surprising Truth About Success

Columnist for The Times and best-selling author of Bounce: The myth of talent and the power of practice, Matthew Syed argues that the key to success is a positive attitude to failure. What links the Mercedes Formula One team with Google? What links Dave Braisford's Team Sky and the aviation industry?What is the connection between the inventor James Dyson and the footballer David Beckham? They are all Black Box Thinkers.

If I Could Tell You Just One Thing: Encounters with Remarkable People and Their Most Valuable Advice

Richard Reed built Innocent Drinks from a smoothie stall on a street corner to one of the biggest brands in Britain. He credits his success to four brilliant pieces of advice, each given to him just when he needed them most. Ever since, it has been Richard's habit, whenever he meets somebody he admires, to ask them for their best piece of advice. If they could tell him just one thing, what would it be? Richard has collected pearls of wisdom from some of the most remarkable, inspiring and game-changing people in the world.

The Organized Mind: Thinking Straight in the Age of Information Overload

Penguin presents the unabridged, downloadable, audiobook edition of The Organized Mind by Daniel J. Levitin, read by Luke Daniels. Modern society is in a state of information overload. Neuroscientist Daniel J. Levitin investigates how and why our brains are struggling to keep up with the demands of the digital age. Why is email so addictive? Is multitasking really possible? And what do successful people keep in their junk drawers?

Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win

In Extreme Ownership, Jocko Willink and Leif Babin share hard-hitting Navy SEAL combat stories that translate into lessons for business and life. With riveting firsthand accounts of making high-pressure decisions as Navy SEAL battlefield leaders, this audiobook is equally gripping for leaders who seek to dominate other arenas.

The Art of Creative Thinking

The secrets of creative thinking by a lecturer at the world famous St. Martin's College of Art who has spent a lifetime researching innovative thinkers. A scuba-diving company faces bankruptcy because sharks have infested the area. Solution? Open the world's first extreme diving school. The Art of Creative Thinking reveals how we can transform ourselves, our businesses, and our society through a deeper understanding of human creativity.

48 Laws of Power

Amoral, cunning, ruthless, and instructive, this piercing work distills 3,000 years of the history of power into 48 well-explicated laws. This bold volume outlines the laws of power in their unvarnished essence, synthesizing the philosophies of Machiavelli, Sun Tzu, Carl von Clausewitz, and other infamous strategists. The 48 Laws of Power will fascinate any listener interested in gaining, observing, or defending against ultimate control.

Publisher's Summary

The unabridged, downloadable audiobook edition of Moonwalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything, Joshua Foer's part-memoir, part-guide on mastering your memory. Read by Mike Chamberlain. On average, people squander forty days annually trying to remember things they've forgotten. Joshua Foer used to be one of those people. But after a year of training, he found himself in the finals of the U.S. Memory Championship. He also discovered a truth we too often forget: In every way, we are the sum of our memories. In Moonwalking with Einstein Foer draws on cutting-edge research, the cultural history of memory and the techniques of 'mental atheletes' to transform our understanding of human remembering. He learns the ancient methods used by Cicero and Medieval scholars.

He meets amnesiacs, neuroscientists and savants - including a man who claims to have memorized more than nine thousand books. In doing so, he reveals the hidden impact of memory on our lives, and shows how we can all dramatically improve our memories. At a time when electronic devices have all but rendered our individual memories obsolete, Foer's book is a quest to resurrect the gift we all possess, but that too often slips our minds.

What the Critics Say

"A marvelous overview of one of the most essential aspects of what makes us human - our memory ... Witty and engaging." (Dan Ariely)

"Memory...makes us who we are...passionate and deeply engrossing ...The more we challenge ourselves, the greater our capacity. It's a fact that every teacher, parent and student would do well to learn. The lesson is unforgettable." (Washington Post)

"Captivating ... Engaging ... Mr. Foer writes in these pages with fresh enthusiasm. His narrative is smart and funny." (Michiko Kakutani New York Times)

This book follows Joshua Foer through his journey from average guy to memory champ challenger, and while it skims over the various memory methods, if you want to use them, you have to research the information yourself

What is amazing is the amount of people in the memory game who limit themselves to certain types, while Josh, in a year, manages to out-do the "professionals" who have been doing it for years, let alone the "memory freaks" (or false ones) who just have remarkable minds, or don't

If you're interested in your mind and how to expand it, then this is an interesting listen, but it won't teach you, it will just set you on the way, and show you about the memory championships

The narrator is good, almost making you think that it's the voice of Josh Foer, which makes it all the more interesting - a very well read book, and I can't wait to listen to more ready by Mike Chamberlain!

This is a good book which touches on some of the techniques used for memory training but mainly follows the author through being a memory novice to competing in the US memory championship. Its not a memory training aid but a relaxed, light hearted take on the people who commit themselves to memorising infeasible amounts of data, and the so called savants who can do this effortlessly.

A journalist covers a memory contest and decides to go in for one himself, getting hooked, in the process on the art and science of memory-training. A fascinating book which explores the subject of memory and memory training from its early history. The most exciting thing is that it demystifies feats of memory and makes you realise that, with a little effort and perseverance, you could manage to remember massively more than you do at the moment!

Mike Chamberlains reading contributes a faint hint of Woody Allen about the whole thing, particularly when it comes to the tradition of memory experts in resorting to bawdy humour to get things to stick in their minds.

there are a few books which at first glance you think to yourself.. "really, another self help book?". with this book you could not be more wrong, or at least... i couldn't. i found my self very surprised at the level of interest in mnemonics this book has ignited within me. the story was told through a very engaging narrative, with which i constantly found myself chuckling aloud.. and at one point even, shedding tears. yes i admit it, i cried. at a certain point in this book i came across a realization about the absence of memory that was sadder than anything i could imagine. but alas, i fear i have already said too much. now.. go forth and listen to one of the books that i'm proud to call my favorites.

This is a great story with an interesting end but there are a few little annoyances I had with the Audiobook. The narrators American accent I found to be a bit annoying especially when describing places in England (of which he names a few) - pronouncing Derby as 'duhby'; and there were a few periods of what seemed to be getting the word count up by citing psychology research of which is vaguely relevant, yet not that interesting.
Overall I would be lying if I said I wasn't entertained by this book and I did finish it with a smile on my face, but may I suggest Surely You Must Be Joking Mr Feynman for more balanced, science based inspirational non fiction(!)

Although not as useful as initially hoped, the skills I learned in this book have proved extremely useful and impressive nonetheless. Scattered amongst an engaging story, I'd wholeheartedly recommend this audiobook.

This is not just a story about a writer entering a memory competition, but an entertaining and informative study of human memory capabilities. Anyone of us really can greatly improve our ability to remember information. This audio book will explain how. It's very well written, researched and narrated and well worth listening to.

This is a fantastic book which surprised me more than once. I hoped to get an insight into memory training but because Josh was so immersed in training for the memory championship we learn soo much more. ACE!

This blog style book sprinkled with some science and facts is good pop intelligentia waffle and can be helpful to fill in the gaps of studying something like memory learning but I am not sure Joshua Foer has another book like this in him. Not sure if I would read any other book by him.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Mike Chamberlain?

Mike Chamberlain is easy to listen to but far from the best and I would not write home to mother about his style. Business like, pedestrian, american is the best way to describe his narration. His English accents are bad. Still he gave it a go and nothing stood out so bad to make you drop your iPod and run away with your ears bleeding. He's okay.

Do you think Moonwalking with Einstein needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

Perhaps Joshua should take the next step and learn a new skill for the brain like decision making, analitical thinking or learning a language in record time. Something to test the mechanics rather than just top up the grey matter. Would be interesting to see his take on exploring more about what the brain is capable.

Any additional comments?

I learned much from this book. I enjoyed it as light intelligentia entertainment. It will not make you a genius but clear up some of your self improvement wish list or at least help you remember it.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

ilkka

Turku, Finland

11/03/13

Overall

Performance

Story

"The holy grail has been found"

What did you love best about Moonwalking with Einstein?

A very well written book. Extremely useful and fascinating topic in an easy-to-digest format. I couldn't recommend more. I actually started applying the techniques I learned from this book in my medical studies and honestly feel like I've made enormous progress.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

yaser

26/03/16

Overall

Performance

Story

"Exceptional book. Full of hints for memorisers"

Not the story itself worth listening, but full of hints and suggestions about how to become a better memoriser.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Aron

13/07/15

Overall

Performance

Story

"Door to a whole new world"

What did you love best about Moonwalking with Einstein?

It provided specific hints and advice how to follow the author's path and use the same memory techniques, while it was also enjoyable to read due to the background story, the quoted historic material and also due to the interesting cases (savants, autistic people, persons with extraordinary memory, etc.).

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Coredapple

Milford, DE, United States

25/01/15

Overall

Performance

Story

"Entertaining and informative"

Joshua's trials to learn memory techniques are very entertaining and the actual process to learn them yourself makes this more than informative. Side stories on other gifted individuals such as savants and their medical conditions round out the topic of other mind abilities and disabilities other than just memory. Highly recommended reading for those curious about memory and how to enhance it.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Ronalds

14/01/15

Overall

Performance

Story

"Now i know why moonwalking with einstein"

This is agreat audiobook and a must read for anyone who is interested in memory techniques. But this is not a step by step programm. Highly recommend

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

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